Automatic circuit closer for electrical systems



Dec. 22, 1959 J. L. TEDESCO AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1959 INVENTOR. JACK L. TEDESCO BY WfMW HIS ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 J. L. TEDESCO 2,918,550 AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JACK .L. TEDESCO S ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,918,550 AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FoR' ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS JackL. Tedesco, Salt Lake City, Utah Xpplication February 20'; 1959, Serial No. 794,702 Claims. (Cl. 200 -118) This invention relates to reset-type electrical devices to close automatically circuits in electrical systems, and is directed particularly to devices whereby a normally open bypass or shunt circuit'=in' an electrical wiring system may be automatically closed under the influence of line voltagewhen the main circuit is broken.

Devices of this type are especially useful in connection with luminous tube electrical signs, better known as Neon signs, and generally serve-at least one of two purposes. The first purpose is to shunt out an open circuit in the display caused by one of the neon tubes becominginoperative because'of age, burn out, terminal damageor other reason. The closing of the circuit across such a tube is desirous to avoid danger of arcing and fire, for example, should the bad tube become cracked or broken. Thesecond purpose served'by such devices concerns the fact that a great many Neon signs exhibit neon tube characters which are coupled together in a series relationship so that if one of the tubes should become burned out, the entire sign is inoperative. With regard to this second purposeit is seen that when there is provided a device to-shunt out the inoperative tube character and bypass the same .so as to complete the series circuit, then the remainder of thesign will remain operative.

These shunting devices are not new to the Neon sign industry. However, the bypass devices of which the inventor is aware are believed to have certain deficiencies, not the least of which is the fact that present devices are not readily accessible for maintenance and reset, once the old tube is replaced by a new one and it is de sired to cock the shunting device to its initial, inoperative, open-circuit condition.

Accordingly, an' object of the present invention 'isto provide an automatic circuit closer for electrical syste'mswhich'will have a highly reliable character of operation and yetbe adapted for easy reset by servicemen, andthis without goinginto the interior of the associated Neon sign proper. I

It is a further object'ofthe present'invention to provide-adevice-of -the' type described wherein the same may be reset 'Ly a' serviceman at a point completely ex terior': fromth'ersign proper, and this merely by moving" anactuaton rod in the'appropr-iate direction so as toaccomplish the reset function;

According to the present'invention the device includes a r are gap "ch-amber held in a position remote fromithe' si'gnboard proper by means of insulating spacers. This arcfig'ap chamber includesa body having an internal detent toaccomm'odateth'e dimple protuberances of *a bi- This member is backed by metallic, V -shaped membe'ri I a compressionspri g so that when the'bi-Inetallic-rnen'iher-isheated'so that' itSfIegs'cOntract inwardly the spring" will urgei the'fbi' metallic memberandthe conductiverod' disposed withi'n thespri g toward an electrical contact" to complete'iser-ies circuit connection. The aforemen= tioned rodiis connected to an' insulating me which isdisposed"through"an aecommodating aperture in the signboard itsjelfi. gThe endoftthe insulatingrod protrudes outwardly from 1 the face of the si giili oard so toj be easily accessible to servicemen. A" protective, cartridge-com figured cover covers the insulating rod'andscrews into a seat providedin the signboard. Thisfcover protects .the" device from inclement weather-and corrosion. Cocking ofthe" device t'o*its' inoperative position is aecorriplished' merely by retrieving the rod in the directionoutwardlyf from the signboar'd. H p I v The device is completely responsive to line voltage for, when the associatedneon tubecharacter' b urn's outpthe'; lin'e'voltage isimpres sed directly across terminals of the" character so as to produce aharc between the afor mentioned conductive rod aiid" terminal. H Series circuit operation is again attainedFviitli, as betoredescribedthef rod engagingthe-terminal to close the are gap. Ih ef reset operation above described restores the" device" to open circuitg shunt'coiiditioni w I The featuresjofthe"present iiiiientionwhich are believed" tobe' novel" are set forthj'wth particularity in the ap pended'claiinsle The presentfirivention', both as to its; organization andmariner of operation, togetherwith" further object'sfarid av'a itages thereof, may best be 'un-' derstood' by reference te'the'folle ngdescription, taken? in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which;

Figurel is a' fr'agmentary elevationof a portion of a character of'thaf display,'with the device in the"presen t;

invention being mainly" disposed on the other side"of the signboard within therear er'iclosiirejthereof but having" anactu ator' portion (provided aca rtridge cover) m; trudin'g through'an aperture inithe] signboard proper: toward theview er (andtovivards-tlie service man'who may becalledupontoflservicet I M Figure 2is a'viewpairtlyin crosssection, taken along." the line'2 2 'in .-Fi'gure" 1," illustrating the configuration of a principal embodiment of the invention, the signboard" itself being" shoivnfiri fragmentary cross section. H H

Figure isjaplan vi'eiaifpf them'ounting member em: ployedinfthe'pr'esent device. I X H l D Figure "4 isa pIan"view df a lug-washer em'pldyed'in" the device dfFigu're 2. p H H Figure' S is an'elevat'ion 'a' subsitituteiforthe body, cap: and rug washercoinbifiation df igureZ'. M Fig'ure' 6'=i an elev" s iiiii cress-jse'ctiori, of: an upper. .cap edgy; and lower c'a 'p f combination which may be" employed toc'dirstitute together with IOPhIi'dJ bottom" cap covers"showndn 'Figiires 9,10'and 14, the" substitutearc=gap body app aratus of Figure' S I H I Figures 7 and"8'arefragmehtaiywiews taken along the" lines 7-'7 and fi lifrespectively,in" l?igure6.' g Figure- 9 is-a' plan view of" the" Figure 5 apparatus" when-the latter employsfihe upper cap shown in Fig ure 6.

Figure. lQa' fragmentary view taken along the line 10 10"iI rFigure"9I p v Figure llis amp plairof an" alternate, upper cap and cover combinati'on'whieh maybe employed in the Figure 5 embodiment offthe presentinvention. I Figure-:12 is a verticai sectionof the alternate, upper Figure 14 a plan 'viewof the base cap taken 'a'lon g In Figure '1 'is' shown -the ne'o ftube letter R which s partof a Neon sigriorfdispl mountedfinacon'vention' mann r uphn signboa'rd "19; The' itetn situated' 'withinjfl aperture 11to"theright"(with respect to the viewer) of" the letter'R isth'e circuit cldsure 'device12 which is the subject of the present invention. The device 12 is shunted across the neon tube letter R by a pair of leads 13 and 14 running in back of the signboard proper and connecting to letter terminals 15 and 16 of the letter. The leads 17 and 18 constitute electrical leads or other electrical connections connecting the letter R to other electrical components.

Figure 2, a view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure l, is an elevation of the device of the present invention indicating its mounting to the signboard 10 proper, the signboard 10 being shown in fragmentary section. Mounting member 19 in Figure 2 (see Figure 3 for a plan view thereof) is shown to have a plurality of lugs 20 each having an inner shoulder portion and an outer indented portion 26. Each of the inner shoulder portions is provided with a self mounting aperture 21 and a spacer mounting aperture 22. Mounting member 19 also includes a cylindrical seat 23 having an internal lip 24 (defining aperture 24') and maycomprise a metal part stamped and formed in the usual manner. Sheet metal screws 27 pass through signboard apertures 28 and apertures 21 to secure the shoulder portions 25 of mounting member 19 directly against the signboard proper. A non-conductive cap 29 of Bakelite or other material is press-fitted into the cylindrical seat 23 of mounting member 19, seating upon internal lip 24. This cap 29 is internally threaded and cooperates with the threaded end 30 of cartridge-configured cover 31, shown as being fabricated from transparent material such as glass, for example, after the cover 31 has been threadably received within cap 29 to butt against washer 32. A non-conductive actuator rod 33 protrudes up to a point within the cover 31, threadably connecting at its lowermost end 34 to metallic, conductive rod 35. Rod 35 passes through aperture 36 of porcelain cap 37, the aperture 36 being lined by eyelet 38, and the latter crimping down Fahnstock terminal 40 at aperture 40' thereof within positioning channel 37 associated with the upper surface 41 of cap 37.

The cap 37 has an upper portion 42 of one diameter and the lower portion 43 of lesser diameter (the latter shown as threaded in Figure 2), the two delineating a shoulder area 44. Porcelain body member 45 is of cylindrical character having a base portion 46 provided with threaded bore 47 and hollow principal portion 45". Body 45 is provided at its inner wall with an internal, circular, upwardly directed shoulder 48 which provided a detent for the dimple or toe-like protuberances 49 of hairpin-configured, thermally responsive member 50. Thermally responsive member 50 comprises a bi-metallic strip, the outer side thereof having a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the inner side. Thermally responsive member 50 includes an aperture 51 en abling securement of member 50 to shoulder 52 of metallic rod 35 by means of nut 53, the latter being threaded onto threaded end portion 54 of rod 35. Hence, the position of member 50 with respect to the arc gap between rod 35 and contact 55 is discretely determined. A screw-type contact 55 is threaded through the threaded bore 47 of bore portion 46 and is chosen so that the end of the same may be a desired arc-gap distance away from end 54 of rod 35. Fahnstock terminal 56 is seated within channel 57 of base portion 46 and connects with the screw contact 55, being seated and secured thereby.

A lug washer 60 is seated, held between and cemented to the cap 37 and the body member 45 and is shown in plan in Figure 4. The lug washer is ring-configured as therein shown, having a ring portion 61 provided with a plurality of outwardly extending lugs 62, the latter having spacer mounting apertures 63. When mounting member 19 and lug washer 60 are properly oriented, the lugs 62 of lug washer will be in alignment with lugs 20 of mounting member 19 in Figure 3 so that the same may connect to opposite ends of non-conductive spacers 62. These spacers 62 are secured in place by machine screws 63 4 which are threaded into drilled and tapped holes 64 provided therefor in the spacer ends. The provision of these spacers 62 is important since safety requirements necessitate a removal of the electrical parts from the sign proper by a few inches.

The operation of the device shown in Figures l-4 is as follows: Assume that the neon tube letter R in Figure 1 is one of a plurality of series-connected letters in an advertising display and that because of age or for other reasons the letter R at least becomes inoperative, i.e. non-conductive. When this occurs and the power is on, the voltage difference between the letter R terminals will increase as before explained so as to cause the occurrence of an are between the end 54 of rod 35 and contact screw 47. This resultant current flow operates to heat the bi-metallic member 50 so as to cause the legs L of the same to progress inwardly, thereby releasing the toes 49 thereof from their detent at shoulder 48 so as to permit compression spring S to force the end 54 of metallic rod 3'5 into contact with terminal 47. Upon this contact the arc will cease and conduction of electrical current from lead 13 through terminal 40, eyelet 38, spring S, rod 35, to screw contact 47 and Fahnstock terminal 5-6 to lead 14 will take place.

Suppose now that a service man sees the neon tube letter as being dark and wishes to replace the same and reset the device. In this event he merely replaces the tube letter in the customary manner and, to reset the device, unscrews glass cover 31 from its seat and pulls upon (withdraws) the actuator rod 33. This withdrawal will cause the spring S to compress and the toes 49 to reseat upon the detent shoulder 48 in body 45. The Serviceman then merely replaces the glass cover 31 and system is again in operation.

It is to be noted that the entire reset operation is accomplished at a point exterior of the sign.

It will be noted in reference to Figure 2 that portion 43 of the upper cap 37 is threadedly received within the portion T of body member 45. This threaded connection may be avoided in any one of several ways as is illustrated in the remaining figures. Thus, in Figures 5 and 6 the body member 45' is provided and is similar in construction to the body member 45 in Figure 2, with the exception that the upper portion is nnthreaded, is provided with an annular shoulder protuberance 48', exhibits an open end 46' defined by hollow body element 46", and includes lower cap 65 as a separate part. The end 46 includes a pair of channel slots 63 (see also Figure 8) for receiving lugs 64 of lower cap 65. An annular groove 66 is supplied the lower portion of body 45.

Lower (base) cap 65 in Figures 6 and 14 includes the aforementioned lugs 64 disposed upon shoulder 67 (the latter being delineated by upper portion 68 of one diameter and lower portion 69 of increased diameter), and has a centrally located, threaded bore 70 with a lateral channel 71 on the undersurface thereof.

The threaded bore 70 receives a screw-type contact such as screw 55 in Figure 2. Metallic cap 73 in Figure 5 has its peripheral edge 74 rolled into the annular groove 66 in Figures 5 and 6. A channel cut-out 75 is supplied the metallic cap 73 and has side flanges 75' which are crimped over the edges of channel 71. The upper or top cap '76 includes an upper portion of increased diameter 77, a lower portion 78 of reduced diameter, a central aperture area 79, an upper counterbore area 80 defining shoulder 80' and a radial bore or aperture 81 which is in communication, at least in part, with counterbore area 80. The radial aperture 81 admits the end of the lead wire 13 in Figure 2 so as to admit the end thereof into the counterbore area 80. And as in Figure 2 the eyelet 82 may be disposed over the admitted electrical lead or its terminal to be crimped down over bore area 79.

Upper, metallic, cap cover 83, as shown in Figures 5, 9 and 10, has a lower lip 84 engaging shoulder 85 of the body 45 and also includes a plurality of outwardly disposed lugs 8.6v which, by virtue. of their eut-outs 87 leave flanges $8 to be c'r'iinped down onto the top 89 of the cap 76. Cutout 9.0 is also provided for this purpose, the lug portion esteem the "same beingrer'noved since is not needed withthe three spacer arrangement "or Fignre Z. 'f i i An alternate cap and cap cover arrangement is illustrated in Figures 11-13. Top or upper cap 91 includes alargegcylindrioahupper portion and a small cylin dricallower portion with the two portions defining shoulder Central aperture 95 is provided for the metallic conductive rod 35 in Figure 2 and also the associated eyelet (not shown). In additionto the usual counterbore area 96 there is also providedat the top of cap 91 a channel 97 the base of which is coterminous with the base of the counterbore area 96. For manuiacturin'g reasons it is easier to have the channel 97 run clear across the top of the cap instead of stopping short, i.e. but half way across, to provide for the fixed positioning of the associated terminal. The cap cover 98 provided therefore is constructed in a manner similar to that shown in Figures 9 and 10 minus, of course, the aperture 99 in Figure 10. However, the cap cover 98 this time is provided with flanges 100 and 101 which crimp, over the channel portion. This crimping is performed of course after the flanges 102 delineated by the outwardly turned lugs are crimped over the top 103 of cap 91. The side 104 of cap cover 98 should be lower slightly so as not to interfere with the positioning of the electrical terminal into the channel 97 and above the aperture 95.

In the case of all of the body members and respective caps shown in the various figures, however, the junctures of all should be provided with respective lugs L and channel slots C. This is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 wherein the lower cap, the upper cap and the body member are designated as UC, LC and B, respectively.

Returning again to a consideration of Figure 2 it will be understood that, if desired, parts 33 and 35 may comprise a unitary, non-conductive rod and that electrical connection between eyelet 38 and screw contact 55 be accomplished by conduction through spring S, thermally responsive member 50 and nut 53.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An automatic circuit closing device for electrical Wiring systems including, in combination, a non-conductive body member including a hollow principal portion and a base portion at one end thereof, said principal portion including an internal detent and said base portion including an electrical contact; a conductive rod disposed at least in part within said principal portion and adapted for reciprocal, longitudinal displacement along the axis thereof toward and away from said base electrical contact; a thermally responsive member mounted to said rod and having toe means normally engaging said internal detent and responsive to temperature rises produced in said thermally responsive member for freeing said toe means thereof from said internal detent; slideway means fixedly disposed with respect to said body member and journalling said rod; compression spring means surrounding said rod and disposed between said slideway means and said thermally responsive member for urging said rod toward and into contact with said base contact when said toe means is disengaged from said internal detent; means for enabling electrical con nection to said conductive rod; and non-conductive means aflixed to said rod for enabling the safe, manual withdrawal of said rod from said base terminal to reengage said toe means of said therinallyresponsive memher with said internal detent. W i

2. A device according to claim in which said internal detent said prineipal portio n comprises an annular shoulder facing away from said contact, said thermally responsive member being of hair-pin configuration, oriented in a convex manner in the'direction of said base contact and having a pair of legs terminating in said toe means.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said principal and base portions of said body member are constituted by a body element and a lower cap, respectively, said lower cap exhibiting a threaded bore for said contact, said contact comprising a screw disposed within and through said threaded bore, said lower cap also exhibiting a shoulder butting against said body element and also an electrical terminal positioning channel, said body element having an outwardly disposed peripheral groove disposed in proximity with the juncture of said lower cap and body element, and a metallic cover secur-v ing said lower cap to said body element, said metallic cover being disposed at its extremity into said annular groove.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said slide: way means comprises a non-conductive, upper cap secured to said body member and having a central aperture journalling said rod, and in which'said electrical connection enabling means comprises an electrical terminal having an aperture circumscribing said rod and a conductive, metallic eyelet disposed through said upper cap and terminal apertures and securing said terminal to said upper cap, said terminal thereby being electrically coupled to said rod.

5. A device according to claim 2 in which said conductive rod is provided with a threaded end portion terminat: ing in a shoulder, said thermally responsive member being provided with a mounting aperture cooperating with said threaded end portion of said conductive rod, and nut means secured to said threaded end portion for mounting said thermally responsive member against said rod shoulder.

6. A device according to claim 4 in which said body member is provided with an outer peripheral shoulder, said slideway means including in addition to said upper cap a metallic cap cover securing said upper cap to said body member by engaging said outer peripheral shoulder of said body member.

7-. A device according to claim 4 in which said uppercap and said body member includes inter-cooperating, threaded portions.

8. A device according to claim 4 wherein said upper cap is provided with an electrical terminal positioning channel, said electrical terminal being disposed therein.

9. A device according to claim 4 wherein said upper cap is provided with a radial aperture communicating with said central aperture, said electrical terminal being disposed therethrough, and said central aperture having a counterbore area seating said electrical terminal and eyelet.

10. For use with a luminous tube display, having a metallic signboard backing the display, and disposed in shunt relationship across at least a portion of said display, a normally-open automatic circuit closing device including, in combination, an on-conductive body member including a hollow principal portion and a base portion at one end thereof, said principal portion including an internal detent and said base portion including an electrical contact; a conductive rod disposed at least in part within said principal portion and adapted for reciprocal, longitudinal displacement along the axis thereof toward and away from said base electrical contact; a thermally responsive member mounted to said rod and having toe means normally engaging said internal detent and responsive to temperature rises produced in said thermally 7 responsive member for freeing said toe means thereof from said internal detent; slideway means fixedly disposed with respect to said body member and journalling said rod; compression spring means surrounding said rod and disposed between said slideway means and said thermally responsive member for urging said rod toward and into contact with said base contact when said toe means is dis engaged from said internal detent; means for enabling electrical connection to said conductive rod; non-conductive means afiixed to said rod for enabling the safe, manual withdrawal of said rod from said base terminal to re-engage said toe means of said thermally responsive member with said internal detent; and means for mounting said body member to said signboard, fixedly spacing said body member therefrom.

11. A device according to claim 10 in which said signboard is provided with an aperture, and in which said mounting means includes: a lug washer affixed between said body member and said slideway means and having a plurality of outwardly extending lugs; a mounting member afiixed to said signboard, having a seat provided with an aperture coaxially aligned with said signboard aperture, and including a plurality of outwardly extending lugs respectively aligned with said lug washer lugs; a plurality of non-conductive spacers disposed in between and mounted to respective ones of said lug washer and mounting member lugs; said non-conductive means aflixed to said conductive rod comprising a non-conductive rod coaxially aligned therewith and in part protruding through said signboard aperture to the display side of said signboard; and a cartridge-configured cover removably secured to said mounting member seat and disposed over the protruding portion of said non-conductive rod.

12. A device according to claim 10 in which said signboard is provided with an aperture, said slideway means comprising an upper cap of non-conductive material and a metallic cap cover securing said upper cap to said body member and exhibiting a plurality of outwardly extending lugs, and in which said mounting means includes: a mounting member afiixed to said signboard,- provided with an aperture coaxially aligned with said signboard aperture, and having a plurality of outwardly extending lugs respectively aligned with said metallic cap cover lugs; a plurality of non-conductive spacers disposed between and mounted to respective ones of said metallic cap and mounting member lugs; said non-conductive means affixed to said conductive rod comprising a non-conductive rod coaxially aligned therewith and in part protruding through said signboard aperture to the display side of said signboard; and a cartridge-configured cover removably secured to said mounting member seat and disposed over the protruding portion of said non-conductive rod.

13. A device according to claim 10 in which said signboard is provided with an aperture, said body member exhibits an outer shoulder, said slideway means comprising an upper cap of non-conductive material and a metallic cap cover securing said upper cap to said body member in the region of said body member shoulder and exhibiting a plurality of outwardly extending lugs, and in which said mounting means includes: a mounting mem ber aflixed to said signboard, provided with an aperture coaxially aligned with said signboard aperture, and having a plurality of outwardly extending lugs respectively aligned with said metallic cap cover lugs; a plurality of non-conductive spacers disposed between and mounted to respective ones of said metallic cap cover and mounting member lugs; said non-conductive means aflixed to said conductive rod comprising a non-conductive rod coaxially aligned therewith and in part protruding through said signboard aperture to the display side of said signboard; and a cartridge-configured cover removably secured to said mounting member seat and disposed over the protruding portion of said non-conductive rod.

14. An automatic circuit closing device for electrical wiring systems including, in combination, a non-conductive body member including a hollow principal portion and a base portion at one end thereof, said principal portion including an internal detent and said base portion including an electrical contact; rod means disposed at least in part within said principal portion and adapted for reciprocal, longitudinal displacement along the axis thereof toward and away from said base electrical contact; a thermally responsive member mounted to said rod means and having toe means normally engaging said internal detent and responsive to temperature rises produced in said thermally responsive member for freeing said toe means thereof from said internal detent; slideway means fixedly disposed with respect to said body member and journalling said rod means; compression spring means surrounding said rod means and disposed between said slideway means and said thermally responsive member for urging said thermally responsive member into electrical connection with said base contact when said toe means is disengaged from said internal detent; and means for enabling electrical connection to said thermally responsive member.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which said rod means comprises a non-conductive rod exhibiting a threaded end portion having a shoulder and nut means disposed in engagement with said threaded end portion for securing said thermally responsive member to said rod against said shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,423,197 Matson July I, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,918,550 December 22, 1959 Jack L. Tedesco It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correct-ion and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 67, for "14-14 Figure 6." read 14l4 in Figure 6. column 6, line 65, for "an 0nc0nduct1ve" read a non-conductive Signed and sealed this 21st day of June 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attcsting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,918,550 December 22 1959 Jack L. Tedesco It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 2, line 67, for "l4-l4 Figure 6." read 14-l4 in Figure 6. column 6, line 65, for "an on-conduct1ve" read a non-conductive Signed and sealed this 21st day of June 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AX ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Ofi'icer Commissioner of Patents 

